Thanks to all who explained about straw needles. I have used the Fons and Porter set that says for quilt binding. I'll have to give the straw needle a try ...my stitches need some help.

The needles that I use for hand quilting are called "betweens". I generally use size 9 or 10 and I think you will find them quite easily in most quilting supply shops.

I prefer the straw needles as they have some flexability. I use ones fom Foxglove cottage.

I had straw needles and loved them. Needed more and could not find them anywhere but I found milliner needles that were the same so I got them and they work just as well. the only thing about them is they are so thin they tend to bow but they still sew great. I change to a new one when the bow or bend gets really bad. I just saw straw needles on sale in my last Connecting threads catalog and plan to order some.

I use straw needles for applique, but not for binding. I use silk thread for applique, and I can easily thread that through the straw needle, but when binding I use a heavier thread and can't usually get it through the straw needle's eye. I also prefer a heavier needle for binding.

straw needles are my favorite too.

For applique, I like the straw needles and silk thread. I don't have many colors, but when you snug up the thread, it almost disappears! Love it! It made my 1st project look great!

The eye is quite small but the needles are wonderful to use. I bought the Clover needle threader to thread for me- it is amazing.

I do a lot of needle turn and I use a straw needle. They are the same width all the way down, really are great to sew with. They easily bend tho....

The first I heard of "straw needles" was when I first started hand applique and they were mentioned by Jeana Kimball. She has them on her website and describes them as:

Best known for use in hand applique, the Straw needle has a narrow shank that glides easily through several layers of fabric. Since the eye of the needle is punched within the existing shank, it does not hesitate at the eye when pulled through fabric. The Straw needle is also useful for basting, hand piecing, and applique. Here's her website: http://www.jeanakimballquilter.com/s...awneedles.html.